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FUNERAL SEEMC 



ECCI^BSIASTES IX. 12. 

For man also knoweth not his time: as the fish 
that are taken in an evil net, and as tlielnrds that are 
caught in the snare : .•>•/» are the sons- of men snared in 
an evil time, when itfalleth suddenly upon them. 

OTOD, in infinite wisdom, lias immutably establ 
a perfect plan of future operation. Vil the objects 
and events of time and eternitj lie open to his all- 
comprehending view. But, over all future events, a 
dark mist is east, which cannot be penetrated by the 
eve of mortals. Hence, uncertainty is stamped on all 
earthly possessions and enjoyments. We hold life 
and all the blessings of time at an uncertain tenure. 

Though * (here is a time to die, and the living 
know it,' the day of their departure is concealed in 
(lie deep council of God. 

For man also knoweth not his time. 

As these words have evident respect to the hour 
of dissolution, they will naturally lead us to contem- 
plate the subject. And, 

I. All men are uncertain when they shall die. 

' Ye know not,' said our Lord, • when the time is.' 

li is coming, but unknown to man. The Saviour 

could have informed every one, of the moment of his 

decease ; but this information In* gave to none. This 






/ 



solemn subject is treated with equal silence by all the 
inspired writers. The Bible reveals great and impor- 
tant events, but it easts a veil over the grave, and 
hides the day of death from all the living. No one. 
can by reason, learning or observation, determine the 
moment of his'departure. Thbegh God gives many 
signs in Providence, by which Ave are enabled to form 
probable conjectures respecting future events ; jet he 
gives us no infallible signs of life, upon which the 
young or old, strong or infirm, may rely. 

There are innumerable diseases and unknown prov- 
idences, Aviiich no finite eye can foresee, and no human 
art can resist. These constantly surround us, and to 
them we ire ever exposed. "Who in this assembly 
can say, his name does not stand next on the commis- 
sion of death ? Those who are now calculating on 
many years, and flattering themselves with the hopes 
of much enjoyment in time, may be the very first to 
bow to the king of terrors. No man ever knows 
whether there be more than a single step between him 
and eternity. The late instance of mortality* is, in- 
stead of a thousand arguments, to demonstrate the 
total ignorance of all men respecting the day of their 
decease. As the fish which are taken in an evil net, 
and as the birds that are caught in the snare ; so are 
the sons of men snared In an evil time, when it f ali- 
eth suddenly upon them. The tish and the birds are 
taken suddenly and unexpectedly, without previous 
warning ; so are men called out of time. Divine 
Revelation and Divine Providence concur, in teaching 
men, that they are utterly uncertain when they s hall 
die. 

* Lieut. Roby was attacked with the Typhus Fever on the fifth 
September, and died the twelfth. 



5 



These remarks lead ns to show, 

If. That it concerns all to live in constant pi 

aration for death. 

All mankind come into the world unprepared to 
leave it. All are by nature destitute of that holiness, 
without which no man shall see and enjoy God in a 
future world. This life is designed as a state of prep- 
aration for the world to come. The great business of 
time is to prepare for eternity. Could you realize 
how great and interesting the change of death is. aou 
would immediately feel the importance of being pre- 
d for it. And how can we more forcibly impress 
these things on the mind, than to consider some of the 
solemn effects of death, on the hody and soul? When 
death comes, it will destroy this tabernacle, in which 
we now live. The mortal hody must be covered with 
the elods of the earth, and moulder to dust. Hu- 
miliating idea ! But the soul must return to God who 
gave it, to receive a final sentence. Death w ill pay no 
more respect to the prince than the peasant....the rich 
than the poor....the young than the old....the fair and 
comely than to the most deformed. All must submit 
to the dread alarm. It will completely level all out- 
ward distinctions of men in the silent tomb. Though 
after death men maybe regardless of the mortal part, 
yet they cannot be insensible of losing all that enjoy- 
ment derived from hodily senses. When death de- 
stroys the hody, it puts a final period to all the pur- 
suits and employments of this life. In the day in 
which death seizes the sons of men, in that very day, 
-.,11 their worldly thoughts and enjoyments perish. 
They shall never return to their earthly employments. 
When men are called by death to the world of spirits 



they must leave their treasures, their connexions 
and all outward distinctions, behind them. 

But as it respects the immortal part, the effects of 
death are infinitely more solemn. The connexion be- 
tween the soul and body being so intimate, the disso- 
lution of the latter must be an amazing shock to the 
mind ; especially to those who have made no prepara- 
tion for the world to come. The soul is ushered into 
an invisible state. 

At death, the probationary season is ended \ the 
offers of repentance, the overtures of mercy, the 
means of grace, the calls of the Saviour, the striv- 
ings of the Spirit, cease, they cease forever ! 

To that soul, the proclamation is, * Time shall be 
no longer/ Then the immortal spirit is instantly con- 
veyed into the invisible world, into the immediate 
presence of the Great God of nature, to whom he will 
say, * He that is unjust, let him be unjust still : he 
which is filthy, let him be filthy still :' or, * he that 
is righteous, let him be righteous still ; he that is ho- 
ly, let him be holy still.' After death, no errors can 
be rectified, no neglects can be retrieved. It will open 
or shut the door of heaven forever. 

But after death eomes~ the judgment. At death 
the soul is on his way to the general resurrection and 
final judgment. Solemn scenes indeed are now 
introduced ! Unnumbered millions rise from sleep- 
ing dust ! They burst the bands of the grave ! They 
behold the heavens and the earth wrapped together 
like, a scroll, and the elements melting with fervent 
heat ! They see the Son of God coming in the clouds 
of heaven, attended by ten thousand times ten thou- 
sand spotless angels ! They hear the voice of the 



Archangel; they ((tine forth ! They appear In-fore 
the (In-.ii! tribunal <>l" the final Judge ! Thej behold 
Him saated on the throne of the universe, arrayed in 
glory and majesty, before whom the heavens and i he 
earth Ike away. The decisive sentence is pa 
The righteous are separated from the wicked. ' These 
shall go awa^ into everlasting punishment; but the 
righteous into life eternal.' Where death first con- 
veysthe immortal soul, there it a> ill remain forever. 
No change ean take place. Sueh art- the amazing and 
lasting consequences of death to all the living. And, 
for these reasons, it highly concerns every individual 
to see, that they .ire in constant readiness to die. As 
death is certain : the. time when unknown ; the eon- 
sequences awful or glorious, as the temper of the 
heart may be in time ; as the future state is unalter- 
ably fixed at death ; so it becomes every one to be 
in constant preparation for dying. 

We may now proceed, 

III. To show, what it is to live in constant prep- 
aration for death. 

This is both habitual and actual. 

Habitual preparation for death consists in excr- 
ci sing true faith in Christ, and evangelical repentance 
toward God. Christ says, « I am the resurrection 
and the life ; he that believeth in me, though he Merc 
dead, yet ^.kAI lie live ; and whosoever believeth in me 
shall never die.' This faith forms a spiritual and vi~ 
tal union between Christ and believers, as the branch- 
united to the vine. This effectually secures 
eternal felicity. Hence Christ says of such. ♦ Be- 
eausel live, ye shall live also. I go to prepare ;t 
place for you. Come ye blessed of my Father, injur- 



- 

it the kingdom prepared for yon, from the foundation 
of the world.' Evangelical repentance is also a sav- 
ing grace $ without the exercise of which the soul 
must perish. * Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise 
perish. 5 Hence Christ and his Apostles said, * Re- 
pent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent 
ye, and believe the gospel. Repent yc, therefore, and 
he converted, that your sins may be blotted out.' As 
much as to say, that those who do repent, shall have 
their sins blotted out, and shall lie saved. 

But there is also an actual or practical prepara- 
tion, which consists, 

i. In the present exercise of gracious affections : 
Repentance, Faith, Humility, Meekness, Submission, 
Benevolence, Brotherly Kindness and Charity. 

2. This practical preparation implies, constant 
mindfulness of death. i Take heed, watch and pray : 
for ye know not when the time is.' * The living know 
that they shall die.' * "Whatsoever thy hand findeth 
to do, do it with thy might : for there is no work, nor 
device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave 
whither thou goest.' 

Hence St. Paul, when speaking of the uncertain- 
ty of life, and the certainty of death, said, * I die dai- 
ly" — that is, he had daily on his mind lively ap- 
prehensions of death and eternity. We find the an- 
cient saints lived under a realizing sense of the 
shortness and uncertainty of life, and of the nearness 
and certainty of death. They felt and conducted 
like dying men ; < As strangers and pilgrims,' walk- 
ing on the verge of time and the borders of eternity. 
This prepares men to meet death with composure. 
By keeping the great and solemn event in view, the 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



I 
012 608 246 



Hollinger 

P H8.5 

Mill Run F3-1955 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



III 111 1 1 1 

012 608 246 



Hollinger 

pH8.5 

Mill Run F3-1955 



